The main event of Bellator 247 has fallen through. This is because Paul Daley had to be rushed to the hospital.
The Bellator star was set to face Derek Anderson in an event that was planned to take place in Milan, Italy. The English welterweight had weighed in at 173.6 pounds for the welterweight fight. As per on-ground reports, he was taken to the hospital before he could show up for the ceremonial weigh-ins.
Consequently, the main event now stands canceled. Journalist and broadcaster Gareth A. Davies reported about the scheduled face-off did not take place. Moreover, Daley was escorted to the hospital on a stretcher.
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As per Davies, commissioner Brandon Morse confirmed the cancellation of the fight.
Fight is OFF: Paul Daley leaves weighins on a stretcher to hospital and fight with Derek Anderson is OFF. Confirmed as official to me by commissioner Brandon Morse.#bellatormilan
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) September 30, 2020
Bellator also confirmed the news. They also added that a new main event will be put in place shortly.
“Paul Daley weighed in at 172.6 during the official window,” a Bellator statement read (via MMAFighting). “He was unable to make it to the stage during the ceremonial weigh-ins shortly after and was subsequently transported. The fight is off and we will have a new main event shortly.”
Paul Daley had informed Bellator about the ill-effects that he was facing due to the bad weight cut
In an Instagram post, Daley had addressed the rumors of the fight getting canceled. He said that he had let the Bellator officials know that he was going to miss weight. However, he hadn’t expected the fight to fall through.
The Englishman also informed his fans that he was had taken to the hospital once. Regardless, he was still hopeful of the fight happening as per schedule.
“No IV, fit to go, wanted to fight,” Daley said. “And then I’ve just heard that there’s no chance. Like I said, [what happened with the last part of the weight cut] is not unusual for professional fighters, it just normally takes place in our rooms with our team.”
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“It’s just unfortunate that it took place downstairs and that Bellator, CBS, and Sky Sports—even though I’m fit, I’m healthy, I’m 100 percent, no hospital treatment, ready to go right now—they don’t want to put the fight on. So I apologize.”
As per MMA Fighting, a flyweight fight between Kate Jackson and Bellator kickboxing champion Denise Kielholtz will now headline Bellator 247.